Just like his fight career, where he’s been dazzling, devastating, and downright gritty at one time of another in beating Victor Rodriguez, Gustavo Lopez, Randy Costa and Davey Grant. The Grant fight was particularly revealing in that he proved he can win a tough, close battle and not just blast foes out in a round or two. Of course, Yanez prefers the blast out part, but he’s glad that he was able to show some new dimensions to his game.
“I’m always disappointed when I don’t get a finish,” he said of the Grant bout, which he won via split decision, earning a Fight of the Night bonus in the process. “A finish, to me, is always really definitive and it makes it more of a statement. A split decision sounds like you’re barely winning, and I really don’t like to barely win. If we’re playing basketball, I want to beat you by 30 points. I don’t want to beat you just by a game-winning shot; I want a blowout every single time we go out there. But I do realize that it was one of those moments where just with the adversity that was around that fight, just the fact that I was able to deal with what I was dealing with before that camp and going into that fight and have the performance that I did against a person who’s a super tough guy and can put anybody’s lights out at any given moment and get the victory is a phenomenal job in itself. But I’m always striving for some type of perfection, and I’m not satisfied with that type of a victory. I’m always looking to get a finish and a definitive win.”
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The adversity Yanez is referring to is the death of his beloved coach Saul Soliz last summer. The Grant fight was his first since the respected Soliz’ passing, but Yanez passed that test in a fitting tribute. Now the circle of life continues, with Yanez now the father to a son who probably won’t remember what happens this Saturday, but it’s going to be a pre-Father’s Day this fighter won’t ever forget.
“I have no pressure,” Yanez. “I look at it as a blessing. I felt a lot happier these last couple months than I’ve probably felt in the past six years. I’m the most happy I’ve been, and my motto for the last six months has been living, loving life. I haven’t had too many bad days; all of my days have been good and there’s no reason for me to have a bad day.”